To raise awareness about the increasing challenges posed by marine litter, the European Commission is organising the first major beach clean-up by EU staff on 14 May. The initiative, with the support of the Surfrider Foundation Europe, will take place on the Belgian coast and is expected to involve hundreds of EU staff and their families. EU agencies and embassies around the world have been invited to host similar events.

15 innovative new blue growth projects funded through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) will be present at European Maritime Day this year - all of which are winners of the blue career, blue labs and blue technology calls.

Today and tomorrow, the second annual forum of the EU macro-regional Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) takes place in Ioannina, jointly organized by the European Commission and the Hellenic Republic.

EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella will be at the Council in Brussels on Thursday 11 May to discuss with European Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers the proposal on the conservation of fishery resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures.

The European Commission has adopted an action plan setting out how Estonia can overcome identified shortcomings in its fisheries control system, following an audit programme on data management and control system in Estonian in 2015 and 2016.

Marine pollution is one of the key topics of the Our Ocean Conference. Every year millions of tons of litter end up in the ocean. It is estimated that by 2050 our seas could contain more plastic than fish. Aquaria are ideal partners to showcase this growing problem and to engage thousands of people, by presenting practical solutions.